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Bye-laws." In 1878, the Metropolitan Board was constituted Local Authority in respect to cowhouses,
dairies, etc., by section 34 of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act: the Privy Council
framed the first Dairies and Cow-Sheds Order in 1879, and regulations, based upon the model
Code, were made by the Board, under the operation of which great improvements in the condition
of the cow.sheds and dairies have been effected. Soon after promulgation of the Order, the Vestry,
which had vigorously supported my views, successfully prosecuted a dairyman who had carrried on
business whilst his house was practically a small.pox hospital. One of the regulations relating to
cow.sheds provided for a definite allowance of cubic or air.space for each animal. Long before they
existed, the Vestry, at my instance, had contended for 800 cubic feet, and the Justices (the licensing
authority at the time) coinciding, that amount became a standard in the parishes and districts
comprised in the Kensington Division, and was enforced, although the regulations of the Board
required only 600 cubic feet, in certain circumstances. The 800 cubic feet standard has since
become general, and is the amount recommended in the Model Bye.laws of the Local Government
Board. In 1885, a new Dairies Order was issued, which enabled the Local Authority to frame
more stringent provisions, especially for the prevention of contamination of milk, and the spread of
infectious disease through the agency of milk. The defect in legislation, as in the cognate case of the
Slaughter.Houses Act, 1874, was, that no attempt was made to utilise the services of medical officers
of health and sanitary inspectors for the purposes of supervision. Supervision of cow.houses, however,
continued to be exercised in Kensington, with manifest advantage, although the Vestry had no
statutory authority, excepting such as it derived from power to oppose the renewal of the annual
licence, which, since 1899 has been granted by the County Council. The powers of the Council,
with regard to inspection and enforcement of regulations, will shortly be transferred to the Sanitary
Authorities—i.e., the future Borough Councils, by the London Government Act, 1899 ; the power to
frame regulations, and the licensing of cow.houses, being properly reserved to the Council. The
bye.laws will thus continue to be uniform for the metropolis, as recommended in 1875. There has
been a great reduction in the number of cow.houses in London since the passing of the Act; viz.,
from 1044, in 1880 to 319 in 1900. At one time (1862) there were 53 in Kensington ; in 1878
the number was 26; now there are only four. Within my personal recollection 500 cows were kept
in the parish; in 1900 the number was five only.
Bakehouses.—The need for legislation to secure the proper sanitary condition of bakehouses,
was brought to the attention of the Vestiy in 1881. The sanitary authority had been
made the inspecting authority by the Bakehouse Regulation Act, 1863; but at the instance of
the Factory Department this duty was, by the Factory and Workshop Act, 187$, transferred to
the factory inspectors, who were few in number, and over.burdened with other duties. The
bakehouses, for the most part, as stated in the report of the chief inspector for 1881, fell into a
deplorable condition. In Kensington supervision, but without legal authority, had been kept
up by the Vestiy, and the premises, although they could not be improved structurally, were at
least kept clean, and in a fairly good sanitary condition. Ultimately, the Factory Department
became convinced of their inability to perform the duty, and in 1883, by the Factory and
Workshop Act of that session, the duty of supervision was re-transferred to the sanitary
authority. The Vestry, realising the necessity for increased powers, had in 1882 organised an
appeal to the Local Government Board, which was largely supported by the sanitary authorities
and by the Society of Medical Officers of Health. I had long contended that what was wanted
was an Act " providing for the licensing of bakehouses, and conferring on sanitary authorities
the power of regulating the trade by bye.laws, uniform for the metropolis "(to be made by the
Metropolitan Board of Works) "dealing with (1) the position and construction, including the
lighting and ventilation of bakehouses, (2) the periodical cleansing of the premises, and (3) the
materials and utensils employed in the manufacture of bread." Some improvements in the law
were effected by the Act of 1883, and later by the Public Health (London) Act, 1891. The
County Council in 1894 made an effort to promote legislation, and approached the Local
Government Board on the subject, but without success. Even now the desired power to enable
the Council to frame bye.laws, to be enforced by the sanitary authorities, has not been obtained.
The annual report for 1894 (pp. 152.166 inclusive) contains a resume of the Vestry's action and a
history of the movement for bakehouse reform between 1881 and 1894.
Effluvium Nuisance: Ref use Matters.—Probably no greater improvement has been
effected by the vestry than in relation to nuisance from the refuse of stables, etc., under the
powers conferred by the bye.laws of the County Council, made under the provisions of the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891. Many hundreds of brick receptacles and offensive underground
pits have been abolished, and some 1,600 iron cage receptacles substituted therefor.
Nuisance, especially during the removal of the refuse, formerly the commonest cause of complaint,
is now of rare occurrence. The first bye.law, dealing with the removal of offensive
refuse, requires amendment, to secure the transit of peat manure through the streets in properly
covered vehicles, and such amendment of it is in contemplation.